What it's like to crash at 180 mph

[993twin]

Well, after wondering about it everytime I suit up for a race or practice at Daytona during the CCS races (like anyone who's been there), I finally found out what it's like to crash at nearly 180 mph.

Huh?!  Yep...1 totalled bike...1 set of totalled leathers...1 pair of broken-shell Daytona boots...and one "me" in walk-away condition, as unbelievable as it is.

So..what happened?  Coming up on last lap, in 4th place coming upon 3rd in the Am Unl GP, and having exited turn 4 about 1/2 way to the Tri-Oval, I looked down at my tach and saw that while in 6th gear, I'd just hit 11.5K rpm on my heavily modified, Erion ram-air tubed 929.  Hmmm...I've got about another 500 rpm until I hit red-line was my last thought.  BAM!  Somehow, for some reason some guy, I suspect on a gsxr 1000, was trying to draft me and unfortunately slammed into me on the left side, and tore me off the bike...at that speed.  Fookin' WOW is all I can say.

I found myself on my back, sliding backwards, steering with my (now blistered) left hand, keeping my head up so that I could at least see who was about to run me over...thankfully, 6th place was far enough back that I had already slid on to the track exit section by the time 6th came around turn 4.

The ambulance crew ran up to me with their eyes wide open, expecting me to be dead (which they basically said on the way in).  Total damage to me: one blistered left hand, one sore right hand, one sprained ankle and one lightly burned inside left elbow.  The bike: one Ohlins fork broken in half, the other bent.  Triple clamps broken in 1/2.  Headstock torn off the frame.  Marchesini mag wheels crushed. Pipe flattened and wrapped around the frame.  Subframe on Jupiter.  Frame bent.

Check out the following site for before and after pix:
solidstateracing.com   Go to gallery, and look for "Daytona 2004 photos" at the bottom right.  Scroll down to the bottom photos...check out that triple clamp!!!

So, an  incredible experience that was totally unnecessary; I know it's racing and accept that, but the rider pulled a really stupid, puzzling move that could have easily had fatal results. It was also bothersome in one main respect: The rider, who did not crash, did not go to the field hospital to find out if I was even alive, did not do a little investigation to find out where my pit was in order to stop by, even after the announcer talked with me over the pa system about the crash, this rider did not come up to me to apologize, ask if I was ok, say that I got in his way....not a thing.

I'd like to know if the rider would like to do that now, as I'm pretty sure that I know who it is.

In any event, I still dig Daytona, and can't wait to go back there in October!  I must need mental attention!!

Bill Keros  Am #34

[r6_philly]

bill I saw your bike under the tarp, I couldn't believe it. it was a ball... like just coming off the crusher looking. I can't believe how well you made out, not a broken bone!

I can't believe whoever did it didn't, and still haven't said anything? By the way I got hit on front straight during the first practice which caused a tankslapper (thank god I didn't crash) and no brakes in turn 1. I know who it was, and he didn't bother to say nothing to be either. Didn't even look over to see if I was ok.

I dont know... can't believe how some people are

[993twin]

Hey Defan,

I can't believe how well I made out also...the fact that I was able to walk over to you and say "look under that tarp" is if anything, amazing.  I have burns on my left hand from steering, two of which are 2nd degree, but that's really the main part of my injuries...incredible.  I am very surprised that the rider didn't come over to say anything.  I'm also surprised that I was given a 10th place instead of 4th, as I "was responsible for the red flag."  Well, I was and I wasn't...I don't know if being taken out makes me responsible, but we'll see....

I'm waiting for the rider to say something to me before I contact him...we'll see about that too.  After all, it did cost me $10,000 cash, and could have EASILY killed me...racin's racing I know, but this is Am stuff, and this was in a straight line!!!!

Thank God I'm ok and in one piece - the main thing.

[clutch]

Dude, that is sick.  Glad you are ok.  

[Steviebee]

DUDE  gald you walked away !!!
Thats 1 less gardian angel for you.

But man,   whats up with an AM having Ohlins forks and Marchesini wheels ?

Just jealous i guess !!!

[EM JAY]

 Wow man, good story, glad your alright!!

[OmniGLH]

So let me get this straight - you chopped the throttle while going over the tri-oval?  Or am I interpreting this incorrectly?

And at any rate - hairy crash.  Good to hear you survived as well as you did!  Daytona is not friendly when it comes to crashing...

[zracer196]

You'll be glad when you move to expert...Alot less stupid mistakes...Still some, but not as many.  

Yeah, I agree...That guy should have at least gone to see how you were doing...

Glad you are OK...

Mark Z.
Ex 196

[dwilson]

Wow, it's a good thing you managed to slide and not tumble.  Same thing happened to me on the straight at Summit Point on the morning practice before my first ever race, I was "only" doing 90ish.  Same deal, guy never said anything to me...  

The bike's not a *total* loss, most of the hardware is still good  ;D

[993twin]

Hey Omni - actually, I didn't let off at all, as I had 3rd place in sight and was slowly gaining on him.  I looked down at the tach and observed that I still had 500 rpm of "headroom," and that I'd not hit the rev limiter before the start-finish line.  My throttle was pinned! :-)

I am lucky as hell to have walked away, no question.  Bike be damned, that's the most important part, however, the senselessness of the mistake is what is irritating.  Mostly is the fact that the guy never came up and said anything, etc.

Yeah, I know...Ohlins and Marchesini's on an Am bike...bought it like that so didn't take the entire hit.  

It was a crazy, phantasmagoric experience to say the least....

[OmniGLH]

Hey Omni - actually, I didn't let off at all, as I had 3rd place in sight and was slowly gaining on him.  I looked down at the tach and observed that I still had 500 rpm of "headroom," and that I'd not hit the rev limiter before the start-finish line.  My throttle was pinned! :-)

Ok glad to hear that!  My first impression when reading your story was that you lifted the throttle to avoid hitting the rev limiter... yikes  ;)

And I totally understand how you feel about the guy not coming by and apologizing later.  I got hit HARD last April in a PRACTICE session, and the resulting crash landed me inthe hospital with a destroyed shoulder.  Nobody owned up to it.  Kinda pissed me off, especially since I have suspicions that it was done on purpose (I was an Am who went out in the expert practice...)

I actually bumped a guy pretty good last week in turn-2 at Daytona... I don't think he crashed, but I have NO idea who he was.  I still kinda feel bad about it, wish I could've found him and at least said "sorry!".    The guy kinda checked up at the last second on me, and I was already halfway around him....

[Bart #72]

Damn Bill that's a crazy story!!  I am glad you walked away.  
I hope the guy has the balls to apologize to you.

Bart

[MZGirl]

 Mostly is the fact that the guy never came up and said anything, etc.

Probably a chicken.   >:(  I've been taken out too (much lower speed) and the one who did it never said anything.  So I can understand your frustration.

Glad you "walked away" from that crash!  And no broken bones?  Wow!   :o

[993twin]

Hey Bart,

Yeah crazy crash...and basically walked away.

I think the guy was probably a combination of chicken and freaked out.  Personally, I think what happened was that the guy knew he hit me, and hit me hard...he 'prolly saw me go down, and then next thing ya know, the race is immediately red-flagged.  Ambulance goes roaring out in one direction, with the crash truck goes roaring out in another (to put out my on-fire bike).  At that point, he 'prolly raced backed to his pit, packed his shite up and left ASAP, thinking he had killed someone....

Still...not heard a word yet.   I think it might be time to contact him....

[Bart #72]

Definately contact him and let us all know how it went.

Did you race at all for the rest of the weekend on your ducati?

[cuda]

Your bike didn't happen to catch fire did it?

[ddk732]

dude, was that your bike at tech? that thing was mangled! :o glad to hear you're all right. my crew and looked that thing over and were in shock of the damage!

[993twin]

Hey Bart,

i didn't race the Ducati, unfortunately...loose hose clamp around the fuel filter!  Always fun to take a new bike to the track w/o riding it first...

Yeah, that was my bike at tech!   And yeah, it did catch fire!!

I'm going to contact #914 Am Jesus Mxxxxx from Miami this weekend....

[Baltobuell]

OK, I've been keeping quiet, BUT and please take no offence, since it is a little different. Last year I was taken out by a guy and went to Halifax in the ambo and kind of held a grudge too until while explaining what happened to a friend, his first comment was, "Jesus, you were giving him a little room and he was just hangin on for dear life when you hit. It put a little perspective on it. Nobody was trying to take you out, I'm sure his underware went in the trash, I would imagine he feels like an as0. And MAYBE, he found out you were OK and was embarrassed or afraid to approach you.
  Anybody that feels attacked will become defensive, so keep in mind all of the above may explain his keeping to himself. From your side, I'd be a little bent too, but being pissed never helps.
  Oh, and MAN, my deepest sympathy for the leftover parts and your wallet. Glad everything important walked away. God must have something for you to do, cause you are clearly a lucky man.

[cuda]

Dude I can't believe you walked from that unbroken.  I was parked way out in RV parking and saw the whole accident first hand.  That guy came off the bank outside of you and his line just took him back to the center of the track right where you were. When you guys hit I wasn't sure anybody would go down, but he kinda hit you while his bike was passing you on the right side.  When I saw you go down I assumed he came in contact with your handlebars or front brake lever or something.  When you hit it looked like you were doing acrobatics.  It is AMAZING that you didn't break some serious parts rolling like that.  You now have only 8 lives left.  

[993twin]

Hey Balto,

Yeah, words well spoken.  I wasn't trying to come off as too much of an "asO;"  purposefully, as I didn't want to scare the guy into not saying anything.  I did mention that I thought he 'prolly thought he'd killed someone, and 'prolly packed his stuff up and left as soon as he could get himself back into the pits...thinking he had killed someone.   I can only expect what I know I'd do myself, though.

Wow, cuda...so you had the bird's eye view, eh?  I've thought about what that must have looked like...yeah, I basically walked away....

My ankle is now barely sore, the scab on my left elbow is almost getting ready to peel off, and two of my three fingers are basically back to normal.  

Hey Bart...I rode the Duc in practice just to make sure that everything was cool with the hose clamp situation.  Wow - that 999 is a sweet handling bike!!!!

Anyway, for some stupid reason, I can't wait to get back on the bike...I'll tell you this, tho...I'm no longer afraid of a 70 mph lowside (maybe I should be!)!!!

[motomadness]

Bill,

Great attitude.  See you in the D.

 :D :D :D

[993twin]

Monsta?!?!  HAHAHAHAhahahaaaaa!!!!!   Sorry dude - ya did it to yourself...from now on, it's "MONSTA G!!!"

Thanks for the props in the pm also.  Diplomatic and professional, while sometimes odd between friends, is usually the way to go - especially if you can still get your point across. :-)

[993twin]

A friend of mine brought up a good point offline regarding a fallen comrade of ours who, while experiencing the same sort of crash I did at the same place, most unfortunately did not fare as well.  I think y'all know who and what I'm talking about.  In a strange way, I respectfully submit that I at a certain, very unusual level, I can relate to this person's tragic experience.  Believe me, I draw comparisons and "what if's" in my mind daily.  This is why I have two 2nd degree burns on my left fingertips, as mindful of the circumstances of this person's crash, I wanted to steer myself around while on my back, so that I could see who was about to run over me at 170 mph+. By some grace, there was no one there.  I hope no one has thought that telling this tale smacks of insensitivity, although I can clearly see how that interpretation might develop.